Rubber spring shackle



Feb. 10; 1931. R. H. cHlL'roN RUBBER SPRING SHACKLE Filed June 7, 1926 Patented Feb.. 10,) 19ml PATENT FFICI.v

RALPH H. CHLTON, Oli IDAYTN, OHIO, ASSGNOR T THE INLAND MANUFACTURING GQMEANY, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A, COEPQRATION 0F :DELATABJE'.v

RUBBER SPRING SRACKLE Application tiled lune 7,

This invention relates to non-metallic joints and has psrticular reference to the shackles interposed between thesupporting springs and the chassis frame of automotive 6 vehicles. Y

An object ott thisinvention is to provide en improved form of non-metallic shackle which gives long life to the non-metallic elastic materiel due to the greatly increased bear l@ ing area thereupon end thereby also permittino' s more enible end efficient elastic materiel to be used therein.

Another object is to provide a shackle having positively limited reletive leterel motion ci? the spring end iframe und hence provide o positive limit to the side swey oi the chassis treme.

Another object is to provide e. non-metallic pivot shackle which cen transmit the trective torce between the spring end chessis freine in either iorwsrd or rearward direction and hence can transmit the driving thrust ci the Hotchkiss ty drive or the reverse thrust which occurs dilring applicetion of the brakes or when backing the cer. A feature of this pivot shackle when used on the iront' end of the reel' automobile springs is the positively limited rearward movement of the spring end relative to the chassis trarne. Hence the reletively lurge braking forces may be trous- `n'iitted without excessively stressing the mein body oi the elastic materiel.

Further objects end sdvsnteges ci the present invention will 'be apparent Jfrom the iol..- lowing description., reference being had to the eccornpmiying drswvings9 wherein e preierred Jtorni ci embodiment ci the invention is clearly shown.

1n the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates s shsclzle mede according to this invention connecting the iront end of e, rcsr spring of en automotive vehicle to the chsssis treme. The section is taken on line 1--1 ot Fig. 3L

Fig. 2 is on end view oi Figi, the section through the spring being on line 2-2 ot Fig. i. l

ig. 3 is e section online 3--3 ci llig. 1. Fic. t is e perspective view oi the bearing siem r secured to the end of, the spring,

1926. erinl No.. 114,123.

part being broken away to more clearly show the .attachment of the bearing member to the sprmg.

Similar reference characters refer to similer parts throughout the several views.

Numeral designates the long leaf of one of the leaf springs which support the chassis v frame upon the rear axle. A bearing member 12 is rigidly iixed to the end of leaf 10. This member 12 is substantially angular in form, having e vertical leg 13 and a horizontal leg 1t extending transversely to the leaf 10. rlhis member 12 may be iiXed to leat 10 in a variety of ways, one suitable method being cleerly illustrated. The end oi leaf l0 is out away to forni a tongue 15 and a shoulder 16 on each side thereof. The leg 13 is slotted or recessed to snugly receive the tongue 15 while the two shoulders 16 bear against the inner surface of leg 13. The leg 14 is fixed to the leaf 10 by the rivets 17, which preferably are spaced some distance from the rear edge 18 of the leg 14 in order not to pierce the lea 10 at the point where the bending moment therein is great. Preferably end walls 19 are provided between the lees 13 and 14. These walls 19 may be mede by bending up the metal from either leg 13 or leg 14 end welding the edge lying adJecent the other leg thereto to form e very rigid structure.

A housing member 20 is rigidly xed to the side rail 21 of the chassis frame by the shoulder 22 end the rivets 23. Housing meniber 20 hais e complementary cap 25 which is clempecl in piece by the iour studs or bolts 26 end 27 with suitable lock washers and nuts 24.

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rllhe bearing memberv 12 is inserted Within suitable recesses rovided therefor in an elastic rubber bloei() whose outside dimensions ere substantially those of the recess 28 ot housing 20. The elastic block 40 has a portion 41 which fits snugly down between the end wells 19 of member 12 while the remaining portions of block 40 extend laterally slightly beyond the wells 19. The block t0,

, having been assembled upon the member 12 fined to the end of the spring 1G, it is cet vup snugly within recess 23 oi= housing 20 end the cop 25 clamped in piece by tightening i spaced a relativel and transmittlng both therebetween as to substantially prevent to and fro movement of the spring end but to permit pivotal movement of the spring end by internal torsional twist within said rub- 3. In a vehicle having a chassis frame and a supporting leaf spring, a pivot shackle connecting and transmitting tractive forces in both forward and rearward'directions between the spring end and frame comprising: a transverse bearing member rigid with the spring end and extending materially beyond the side edges of the spring, an elastic rubber block surrounding said bearing member, a housing sup orted by the frame and enclosing said ru ber block under compression, said bearing member having its ends normally short distance from the rear walls of sai housing and adapted to abut same upon a small relative rearward motion of the spring whereby to positively transmit large rearward forces.

4. A pivot joint for connecting and'transmitting tractive forces in both forward and rearward directions between two relatively movable parts comprising: a bearing member rigid with one of said parts, a housing supported by the second of said parts about sindl earing member, elastic non-metallic material normally isolatin said bearingl member from said housing an having a substantially non-slippin surface grip u on said bearing member an housing where y pivotal move-` ,ment between said parts is taken by internal torsional twist within said elastic material, said bearing member having relatively small clearance with said housing in one direction of longitudinal thrust between said parts whereby relative longitudinal movement in said direction is positively limited after a small relative movement by said bearing 'member abutting said housing 5. In a vehicle having a rame and supporting leaf spring, a pivot joint connecting forward and rearward forces between said spring and frame comprisin a transverse bearing member rigid with t e spring end, a housing su ported by the frame about said member, e astio nonmetallic material normally isolating said bearing member from said housing, said housing having an opening for provi clearance with said spring, said o ening being of materially less lateral widt than said bearing member,

ing substantially vertical and horizont-al legs and having said horizontal leg thereof normally spaced a relatively small distance from ding u frame and adapted to transmit both forward and rearward tractive forces therebetween, said joint comprisin a transverse bearing member rigid with t le spring end and projecting laterally on both sides of said spring end, a housing iixed to said frame and enclosin said bearing member, resilient nonmetallic material within the unoccupied space within said housing and normally isolating said bearing member therein, said housing having an opening for providing clearance with said spring during pivotal movement thereof, said opening being of materially less lateral width than the length of said transverse bearin member, said bearing member being normay spaced a relatively small distance from the housing wall having and adapted to abut said wall opening whereby to directly tractive forces 1n that direcsaid openin adjacent said transmit large tion.

r In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature. RALPH H. CHILTON.

'will said bearing member havthe housing wall on the side toward said clearance opening and adapted to abut said wall to'positively limit relative longitudinal movement in that direction.

6. In an automotive vehicle having a chassis frame and a supporting leaf spring,` a pivot `joint connecting the spring end and 

